Italy's Carro Armato M11/39 medium tank

Photos

Design

A Carro di Rottura (breakthrough tank) was to be developed.⁵

Fiat-Ansaldo built it as a Carro di Rottura.⁶ It was developed as the 8 T in 1932 but was changed to M 11-39 in 1937.⁶

In 1937 prototype was built.⁵ The Regio Esercito (Royal Italian Army) placed an order for 100 of them in 1938.⁶ Production was nine per month.⁶

Started with 6 road wheels and was similar to American M3 Lee except had 37 mm in sponson.³ Eventually had 8 road wheels. Initially had an RF 1 CA radio, but production models had no radio⁵.⁶

Main Armament

Had 2 Breda 8 mm machine guns in the turret and a 37 mm mounted on the right side of the hull.^5,6 The driver was on the left side.⁵

The 37 mm gun had a telescopic sight.⁶ The two 8 mm Breda machine guns were in a cast gimbal mount with a telescopic sight and room mounted periscope.⁶

Fighting Compartment

On each side of the hull superstructure were oval pistol ports.⁶ There were two ports in the right rear superstructure.⁶

Entrances were in the turret room, above the main gun, and a door in the left side.⁶

The armor was bolt-on plating.⁶ Riveted construction.⁴

Air intakes were at the rear in the superstructure and the turret.⁶

Crew

The driver was located on the left towards the front of the M11/39.³ The commander was the only one in the turret which was located in the center of the M11/39.³

Engine

The engine was in the rear with the drive going to the front sprockets.^5,6 The adjustable idler was in the rear.⁶

There were two radiator gills at the rear of the engine compartment.⁶

Suspension

The suspension had two four-wheel bogies mounted in pairs on a semi-elliptic leaf spring.⁵

It had four double wheeled articulated bogies that were paired into two bogie assemblies.⁶ They were carried on semi-elliptical leaf springs.⁶

Two spare bogie wheels were fitted on the rear hull, with the jack on the front left fender.⁶

First Tests

A company in the 32nd Tank Regiment of the Ariete (Ram) Armored Division received the first batch to test in August 1939.⁶

Prototype

The prototype for the M11/39 was built in 1937.³ It used the same suspension as the L3 but it had six road wheels per side.³

Production

• M11/39: 100³
  • Production: 1937 - 1940³

Usage

Was intended to be main tank of armored divisions. Each battalion would have 31 tanks.

These eventually equipped two battalions of the Ariete (Ram) Armored Division.⁶

In Africa

24 were sent to Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Italian Somaliland.⁶

70³ / 72⁶ were sent to Africa and joined the 4th Tank Regiment. First action Sidi Azeis, August 5, 1940.⁵

Five were captured by the 6th Australian Division and used against the Italians at Tobruk in January 1941.

Specifications

	M11/39
Crew	Commander/turret gunner, 37 mm gunner, driver6 31,2,4,5,6
Physical Characteristics
Weight	24,250.4 lb6, 24,640 lb 10.8 tons4, 10.83 tons, 11 tons1,2, 12.1 ton6 11,000 kg4,6, 11,175 kg1
Length	15.5'2, 15' 6"1,5, 15' 6.5"4, 15' 10.9"6 4.7 m , 4.73 m1, 4.74 m4, 4.85 m6
Height	6' 11.1"6, 7.33'2, 7' 6.5"4, 7' 7"1,5 2.11 m6, 2.3 m1,4
Width	7.08'2, 7' 1.8"6, 7' 2"1,5, 7' 3"4 2.18 m1,6, 2.2 m, 2.21 m4
Width over tracks
Ground clearance
Ground contact length
Ground pressure
Turret ring diameter
Armament
Main	37 mm1,2,3 37 mm Vickers-Terni L/40, hull4,6
Secondary
MG	2: 8 mm MG1,3 2: 8 mm Breda Model 38 MG, turret4,6 2: MG2
Side arms
Quantity
Main	846
Secondary
MG	2,8086
Side arms
Armor Thickness (mm)	6 - 301,2, 7 - 306, 304
Hull Front, Upper	30
Hull Front, Lower	14
Hull Sides, Upper	14
Hull Sides, Lower	14
Hull Rear	14
Hull Top	8
Hull Bottom	8
Turret Front	30
Turret Sides	30
Turret Rear	14
Turret Top	7
Engine (Make / Model)	Fiat SPA 8T1,4,6 Spa 8T5
Bore / stroke
Cooling	Water6
Cylinders	81 V-82,4,5,6
Capacity
Net HP	1051,2,4,5, 1256
Power to weight ratio
Compression ratio
Transmission (Type)
Steering
Steering ratio
Starter
Electrical system
Ignition
Fuel (Type)	Diesel1,2,4,5,6
Octane
Quantity	Main tank: 38.3 gallons6, 145 liters6 Reserve tank: 9.2 gallons6, 35 liters6
Road consumption
Cross country consumption
Performance
Traverse	360°, hydraulic6 37 mm: 15° each way6
Speed - Road	19.9 mph6, 20 mph4,5, 20.7 mph1, 21 mph2 32 kph4,6, 32.2 kph, 33.3 kph1
Speed - Cross Country	9.3 mph
Range - Road	124 miles1,4, 125 miles5, 130 miles6 200 km1,4, 210 km6
Range - Cross Country
Turning radius
Elevation limits	37 mm: +12° to -12°6, -8°
Fording depth	3' 3"
Trench crossing	6' 6"
Vertical obstacle	2' 7.5"
Climbing ability
Suspension (Type)	Two 4 wheel bogies, semi-elliptic leaf spring5 Four double wheeled articulated bogies that were paired into two bogie assemblies.6 Sprung bogie4
Wheels each side	63, 86
Return rollers each side	36
Tracks (Type)
Length
Width
Diameter
Number of links
Pitch
Tire tread
Track centers/tread